No Higher Priority for Syria’s Christians than a Real, Permanent Syrian Ceasefire

After 5½ years of civil war and wanton destruction, the nearly one million Christians still living in Syria desperately want a ceasefire which will allow the peace process to begin. We believe the United States and Russia, jointly, have the influence to make that happen.

On August 26, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced, after meeting in Geneva with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, that the US and Russia were close to an agreement on a ceasefire for Syria. The Washington Post reported “Kerry predicted a deal could be reached within a week.”

But after a 90 minute meeting between US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in China today (September 5), the two countries seemed to be further apart.

According again to the Washington Post, “Obama emphasized the humanitarian importance and urgent need for a ceasefire but was adamant about not striking an agreement that wouldn’t meet his long-term objectives in Syria.”

Which long-term objectives in Syria are those, exactly?

With less than five months left in its tenure, there is nothing left for the current US administration to achieve in Syria other than the protection of Christians and other religious minorities, and the prevention of their eradication. We pray Secretary Kerry continues his quest for a ceasefire agreement. Blessed are the peacemakers.